FSU QB EJ Manuel has a connection to NC State QB Mike Glennon as they both participated in ESPN’s Elite 11 camp. / Zachary Goldstein/FSView

Written by

Perry Kostidakis

Contributing Writer

After passing their first road test, the Florida State Seminoles (5-0, 2-0 ACC) will travel to Raleigh, N.C. to take on the North Carolina State Wolfpack (3-2, 0-1 ACC) in their first ACC road game.

The Wolfpack, who are members of the Atlantic division with FSU, will also provide the Seminoles with their first hostile environment of the season.

Though they traveled to Tampa to take on USF, Florida State had the benefit of having a crowd that might have contained more supporters than detractors.

That won’t be the case Saturday, as Raleigh provides a harsh environment for opponents that play there. Though they’ve won four of the last five, the last time Florida State visited, they fell 28-24 to a team led by current Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson.

“Their fans are right up on you as far as being on the visitor sideline, the fans are right on your back,” quarterback EJ Manuel said. “NC State gets loud and the fans are right up on you in there, but I enjoy that.”

Coach Jimbo Fisher is putting his team through all sorts of preparations so that they can be prepared for the less than welcoming crowd, including having them whisper in practice.

“The whispering, you’ll be shocked how much that helps,” Fisher said. “Because you know what it makes guys do? They take things for granted and have to pay attention. They have to focus and it makes them focus.”

Outside of the environment, Florida State will look to reestablish itself as one of the nation’s top defenses. After only allowing three points in three games, the ’Noles have let up 54 points in the past two weeks, forcing them to play from behind against Clemson and South Florida.

“The game is 60 minutes long, it’s not 59 minutes or anything like,” Manuel said. “We have to play out the whole game.”

The defense will try and prevent the Wolfpack’s offense from having a repeat performance of last week’s game against Miami, in which they put up 664 yards and 37 points, but lost in the final 19 seconds.

A huge factor of that offensive firepower is senior quarterback Mike Glennon has thrown for 1422 yards and 10 touchdowns, but has thrown six picks and is only completing 61.9 percent of his passes.

“Glennon is a fabulous player, and has terrific arm talent,” said Fisher. “He can make all the throws.”

Glennon and Manuel both attended ESPN’s Elite 11 program, where they served as mentors to some of the top high school football quarterbacks in the country.

Florida State’s offense will be ready to showcase some more of the offensive dominance they demonstrated through their first three games and in the second half against Clemson, led by Manuel, who is No. 8 in the nation in passing efficiency, and their rushing attack, which is also No. 8.

“We know it’s going to be a tough game when we get up there Saturday,” Fisher said. “It’s about winning a game, not about making a name for yourself with the No. 1 offense or defense in the country.”

No. 3 Florida State at North Carolina State is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. Saturday, and will be broadcast on ESPN2.